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Lin Hao sprinted across the New Shanghai High campus, his *Reinforced Apron* flapping and his trusty wok bouncing against his hip. The *Crimson Fang Core* and *Abyssal Orb* in his apron's hidden pocket pulsed like tiny heartbeats, their eerie glow casting faint shadows in the pre-dawn darkness. Su Yan's urgent message—"Weird energy readings near the dorms. Meet us at the training grounds NOW. Bring your wok"—rang in his ears, and the mysterious whisper he'd heard ("The Weaver has the key…") sent shivers down his spine. It was 4:17 AM, June 7, 2045, and Lin Hao's reincarnated life was officially a runaway train.
[Sassy, what's with these energy readings?] Lin Hao thought, dodging a stray campus drone scanning for curfew breakers. [And that creepy whisper? I'm a cook, not a secret agent!]
[Emergency Quest: Investigate the Energy Readings with Squad Firestorm. Reward: 400 EXP, Rare Material. Penalty: Traitor's Attention,] Sassy, his snarky [System], replied. [The Crimson Fang Core and Abyssal Orb are reacting to something big. Those energy readings? Same Abyssal Energy as the monster surge. Oh, and that whisper? Probably the cloaked creep from the training grounds. Stay sharp, Spatula Boy, or you'll be cooking your own funeral.]
Lin Hao groaned, clutching his wok tighter. "Why can't I just make dumplings in peace?" The training grounds loomed ahead, a sprawling arena lit by flickering holographic runes. Squad Firestorm—Su Yan, Wang Lei, Zhou Mei, and Liu Tao—stood near a glowing rift in the ground, smaller than the wraith swarm's but pulsing with the same ominous red light as his loot.
Su Yan's fiery aura lit up the area like a bonfire. "About time, Spatula Boy," she snapped, her *Blaze Sorceress* robe singed from recent action. "We've got a mini-rift spitting out Level 5 *Abyssal Imps*. They're weak but fast, and the energy's messing with our gear. Do something useful."
Wang Lei, the *Ironclad Knight*, hefted his shield, which flickered like a bad hologram. "My buffs are glitching," he growled. Zhou Mei's bow sparked, and Liu Tao's daggers dimmed, his *Shadow Assassin* stealth faltering. The imps—small, red-eyed creatures with claws and wings—darted around, giggling like demonic toddlers.
Lin Hao's *Crimson Fang Core* and *Abyssal Orb* burned hotter in his pocket, syncing with the rift's pulses. "Sassy, these imps are tied to my loot, aren't they?"
[Bingo. The Abyssal Energy's amplifying the rift. Use Thread of Fate (Level 2) to stabilize their gear, then Cook the World in a Pot (Level 2) to wipe out the imps. Hurry, or Su Yan's gonna barbecue you.]
Lin Hao ducked an imp's claw, activating *Thread of Fate*. Golden threads spun from his fingers, weaving into the squad's gear. He stitched fiery patterns into Su Yan's robe, iron weaves into Wang Lei's shield, wind threads into Zhou Mei's bow, and shadow strands into Liu Tao's daggers. The threads glowed, countering the rift's interference.
[Gear Stabilized! Su Yan: +15% fire damage. Wang Lei: +20% shield durability. Zhou Mei: +15% arrow accuracy. Liu Tao: +18% stealth.]
Su Yan's fireballs roared back to full power, blasting an imp into ash. Wang Lei's shield steadied, blocking a swarm of claws. Zhou Mei's arrows flew true, skewering two imps, and Liu Tao vanished, reappearing to slice an imp in half. The squad moved like a well-oiled machine, but the rift kept spawning more imps.
"Spatula Boy, crowd control!" Su Yan shouted, dodging a winged imp that tried to steal her hair tie.
Lin Hao activated *Cook the World in a Pot (Level 2)*, his wok expanding to a 12-meter radius. He tossed in a *Dragonfire Pepper*, a *Void Garlic*, and the *Mystic Herb Bundle* from his wraith fight. "Time for a spicy sweep!" he yelled, channeling *Seasoning Slash (Level 3)* for extra flair. The wok erupted, producing *Abyssal Imp Inferno Stew*—a glowing red broth that smelled like a chili festival in hell.
The stew surged across the training grounds, engulfing the imps in a fiery wave. They screeched, their wings sizzling as the broth dealt 600 HP damage to each and applied a *Blazing Burn* debuff, draining 70 HP per second. The squad's minor wounds healed, and the stew's aroma boosted their stamina, making Su Yan's fireballs glow like mini-suns.
[Damage dealt: 600 HP to Abyssal Imps (x15)! Squad HP restored by 35%. Debuff applied: Blazing Burn – Imps take 70 HP per second for 15 seconds.]
The crowd of early-rising students, drawn by the commotion, cheered from the sidelines, phones out. "He's cooking demons!" one shouted, posting to X with #SpatulaHeroFriesImps. Lin Hao's phone buzzed with notifications, but he was too busy swinging his wok like a tennis racket, smacking a stray imp into the rift.
[Critical Hit! Damage dealt: 250 HP! Imp defeated!]
The rift flickered, its energy fading as the imps dissolved. Wang Lei slammed his shield into the rift, sealing it with a burst of light. The squad panted, surrounded by piles of loot: *Imp Claws* and *Abyssal Shards*.
[Emergency Quest Complete! 400 EXP gained! Level Up! Lin Hao is now Level 9! Skill Upgraded: Thread of Fate (Level 3) – Range increased to 20 meters, binding/enhancement strength increased by 15%.]
Su Yan wiped sweat from her brow, smirking. "You're a freak, Spatula Boy, but a useful one. That stew was fire—literally." Wang Lei grunted in agreement, Zhou Mei gave a playful wink, and Liu Tao nodded, which Lin Hao was starting to think was his version of a standing ovation.
Lin Hao grinned, then froze as the *Crimson Fang Core* and *Abyssal Orb* pulsed hotter, their glow matching the *Abyssal Shards* on the ground. "Sassy, this is getting creepy," he whispered, pocketing a shard.
[Abyssal Energy overload. Those shards and your loot are connected to the monster surge. Check that Monster Surge Document you stole—it's got clues. Also, heads-up: someone's watching.]
Lin Hao glanced around, spotting a shadow in the stands—the same cloaked figure from before, holding a glowing orb. They vanished before he could blink, leaving a chill in the air. Su Yan noticed his unease. "What's wrong, Spatula Boy? You look like you saw a ghost."
"Uh, just… tired," Lin Hao lied, his mind on the document. "Long night."
"Get used to it," Su Yan said. "The Global College Combat Exams are in three months—mid-September 2045. We're training daily, so no slacking. Meet us here at dawn tomorrow." She paused, eyeing his apron. "And keep that core hidden. It's trouble."
As the squad dispersed, Lin Hao headed to his dorm, the *Monster Surge Document* burning a metaphorical hole in his inventory. He locked his door, pulled out the document, and scanned it under his desk lamp. It detailed Abyssal Energy spikes across New Shanghai, linked to an underground source beneath the school. One line made his blood run cold: "Suspected faculty member facilitating energy leaks. Possible connection to cloaked observer."
"A traitor in the faculty?" Lin Hao muttered. "Sassy, this is bad."
[Understatement of the century. That cloaked figure's probably working with the traitor. Keep the document and orbs safe, and don't trust anyone—except maybe Su Yan. She's scary, but loyal.]
Lin Hao tucked the document into his apron's hidden pocket, next to the *Crimson Fang Core* and *Abyssal Orb*. His wok sat on his desk, glowing faintly, as if ready for the next fight. "Three months to the exams, a traitor in the school, and a creepy stalker. Great. Just great."
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CLIFFHANGER
As Lin Hao drifted off, his [System] pinged. [Hidden Quest Update: The Abyssal Shards confirm the traitor's interference. Next step: Infiltrate the school's underground tunnels. Warning: High-level monsters detected.] A faint hum came from his apron, and the *Crimson Fang Core* glowed brighter, casting a shadow that looked disturbingly like the cloaked figure. A knock on his door made him jump, and an unfamiliar voice whispered through the crack: "Weaver, hand over the orbs, or the next surge will be your last." Lin Hao gripped his wok, heart pounding. "Sassy, I'm in deep trouble, aren't I?"
[Big time, Spatula Boy. Time to cook or be cooked.]
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